1 Chapter 1

Prologue

“Please, lift me up,” the child asked, looking pleadingly at the two adults as he held the brass angel tightly in his small hands.

The men smiled at one another; this was the first Christmas of which their boy was really aware.

Lifting the precious boy aloft, both men held him as he reached out and reverently placed the ornament in its rightful place at the top of their Christmas tree.

Once the child had been lowered to the carpet, all three gazed at the decorated tree, with its twinkling white lights, gold and silver tinsel streamers and wide variety of ornaments. The adults reached for and took the other’s hand, silently celebrating their success at negotiating the many problems that had prevented them from enjoying the happiness they now celebrated.

1

The heavy storm clouds closed in. Flashes of lightning ignited the sky, giving brief glimpses of the northern Californian landscape.

Through the pouring rain the brightly lit Vacanciessign beckoned. Pulling into the motel’s parking lot, David switched off the engine and prepared himself to face the short but wet dash to the motel’s entrance. He still had a long way to go. He was tired and felt an urge just to put his head down, rest and block out the world for a while.

Waiting in line to check in, he couldn’t help but be captivated by the rear view of the studly African-American who stood in front of him decked out in his olive green fatigues. David realized he’d described the man as studly, even though he hadn’t yet been treated to a view of his face. He knew it was his uniform fetish coming to the fore.

As he waited in line, the teacher kept taking long admiring and hungry looks at the well formed broad shoulders that tapered down to a narrow waist. His gaze locked on the man’s glorious muscular ass. David was held captive by the view of the fearless defender of life and the American dream. He’d always been one for poetic flights of fancy. It was often his only escape from his otherwise hum-drum, boring existence.

“You’re in luck, sir,” The female check-in clerk said. “This is our last free room.”

The movement in the Marine’s uniform as he reached for the offered key caused ripples in the damp green material. Never had David been so jealous of a piece of fabric.

The woman’s words finally penetrated his brain. “Damn,” David said under his breath. He’d have to try and find another motel.

The Marine turned to face the teacher, who averted his gaze from the green clad goodies, but not before the defender of liberty had seen what David had been staring at. From the raised eyebrow of the Marine, David knew he’d been caught.

“I’m willing to share if you’re interested?”

The question, with its clear double meaning, caused the bulge in David’s pants to increase.

“Uh, sure, thanks,” David managed to stammer out.

Being a gentleman, the Marine picked up David’s small overnight case and carried it out of the reception room, David eagerly following behind.

And what a behind,he thought.

* * * *

“Here we are.” The voice sounded like melted chocolate as its owner stopped outside a room door and unlocked it.

Snapping on the lights, the Marine walked into the room, gesturing to David to follow. The room appeared basic but clean. However, décor wasn’t very high up on David’s attention list.

“You better get out of that suit before you catch a chill.”

David, unable to process recent events, just stood in the open doorway.

“Hey, guy?” The Marine approached David and touched his shoulder.

“Huh?” David looked up at the warm, inviting smile of his room-mate and would-be benefactor.

The man’s open face with its widely-spaced, dancing brown eyes…David felt the room beginning to tilt.

“Whoa, I got ya.” A pair of strong arms caught hold of David and righted him.

He felt out of it, dizzy, disconnected from reality. What was he doing here? He’d never picked up a man before, or rather let a man pick him up.

Leading him to the bed, the Marine motioned the older man to sit, before walking back to the door and closing it. The sense of finality in the gesture wasn’t lost on David, but strangely it felt more of a comfort than anything to be feared.

“You okay?” The Marine eyed David with a critical, but caring expression.

“Think so.”

In truth, David was way out of his depth. He wasn’t unaware of the risk he was taking, but his sense of unreality, of numb acceptance, prevented him from exhibiting his usual cautionary flight responses.

“Gee, guy, you don’t say much, do ya?”

“N-n-no.”

The Marine shook his head. “Best give you a hand undressing, don’t want you catching pneumonia,” he said, loosening David’s tie.